Photo printing and drying device



Dec. 17, 1940. J. J. CAMPBELL 2,225,530

PHOTO PRINTING AND DRYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1940. J. .J. CAMPBELL PHOTO PRINTING AND DRYING DEVICE F'i led Sept. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to a photo copying device, but it is more especially directed.

to a portable combination photo printing and drying device.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a statigraph or portable combination photo printing and drying device, especially adapted for field work and comprising a complete photo printing unit, including a heating and drying chamber, said chamber constituting a storage compartment for chemicals, chemical trays, paper supply, etc., when not in use.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an adjustable manually controlled work engaging and automatic switch operating top member adapted, when the paper and copy is in proper contact to turn on the lamps and to automatically cut-off the same when sufficient exposure has been had to insure proper printing. Another important object of this invention is the provision of a portable combination photo printing and drying device of this character ineluding a cabinet having a material to be printed engaging top member and an electric contact engaging element, and means connecting said cabinet and top for operating said element into and out of lamp illuminating and printing position, said means, also constituting a handle structure for transporting the device when not in use. A further important object of this invention is the provision of a portable combination photo printing and drying device wherein a source of heat, in the present instance lamps, and a color screen plate, are so arranged that said screen 5 also acts as a heat deflector to direct heat from said lamps to the drying chamber.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of a portable statigraph device of this character including a cabinet having a hinged top, comprising a complete photo printing unit including a drying chamber having associated therewith an illuminating and heating means and a printing head normally associated with said illuminating means, hingedly and adjustably connected to said top and adapted to be rigidly connected thereto and to move as a unit therewith to open position, whereby daylight or other illuminating source may be utilized to complete the printing operation if desired, and where the normally illuminating means is not available. Another object of this invention is the provision of a portable statigraph of this character including a cabinet having a hinged top, an electrical illuminating unit, an automatic switch device, and means carried by said top and operable when the same is brought to printing position to operate said illuminating unit, and an automatic timing device adapted to predeterminately indicate when said illuminating unit should be cut off to insure proper prints. 5

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved portable photo and drying unit.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is end view of Fig. l with the handle structureand top in open position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of Fig. 4 with the top and printing head in open and separated positions.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section, of the cabinet with the top removed showing the lamp operating switch mechanism with its cover plate removed, and side elevation of the timer mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front View of Fig. 1 partly in section showing the lamp operating switch in dotted lines and the compound contact means in elevation.

The photo copying devices of this general character with which I am familiar have proven unsatisfactory in many ways, some of which are:

Too heavy and cumbersome for satisfactory portability; liable to operate illuminating means for printing mechanism before being properly positioned thereby distorting the printed copy; incapable of maintaining accurate sustained position of illuminating contact control means; not arranged to embrace a. complete photo printing apparatus in a portable unit; and it was to overcome such deficiencies and to provide a compara- 5 tively light weight combination photo printing and drying unit, including a cabinet, a heating chamber therein, a combined light and heating means, and a color screen plate adapted to function as such and at the same time as a heat deflector for directing the heat from the light means to the drying chamber, a top member including a resilient work engaging member and switch contact means, an adjustable printing head adapted for rigid connection to and movable as a unit with said top, illuminating switch control means associated with said head and top, a. pressure control manually operable handle means connected to said top and cabinet and constituting handle means for transporting the unit when not in use, and an electrical indicating mechanism for timing the illuminating or exexposure period, that I designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a portable photo printing device A including cabinet B, compressible top structure C, printing head D, and illuminating and heating means E.

Cabinet A includes an adjustable hinged compressible top I, in the present instance, formed in its under-surface with counter sunk portion 1' in which is mounted the sponge rubber or other suitable yieldable work engaging surface F glued or otherwise suitably secured therein, and bottom 2, sides 3 and 4, and front and rear sides 5 and 6, respectively. Side 5 is formed with a bottom door "I connected to bottom 2 by hinged elements 9 and adapted to be secured in closed position by latches 9 pivotally secured to side 5 by bolts or pins ID, as will be apparent.

Mounted within the cabinet and spaced from bottom 2 supported on posts or cleats ll suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the respective corners or sides of the cabinet is a perforated plate or screen member [2 forming an illuminating chamber [2' and a heating or drying chamber I3 in which latter is mounted the drying pan l4 constituting the bottom of said chamber and adapted for removal through door I.

Said pan l4 constitutes when the device is not in use, a storage receptacle for supplies such as chemical trays, unused chemicals, paper supplies etc. Suitably connected to the under-surface of plate I2 having socket openings therethrough, are a plurality of electric light socket members l5 in which are threadedly mounted the light bulbs or lamps I5 constituting the illuminating unit or means E. Light sockets l5 are connected -to a plug-in outlet socket I! mounted in side 6 adjacent to bottom 2 and each other by suitable wiring l8 and to light control switch l9 mounted in casing 20 seating in cut-out portion 2| in the upper edge of side 5 and back to outlet l'l completing the circuit.

Suitably mounted in side 5 spaced from its upper edge and adjacent to side 4 is a cut-off switch l9, and mounted on corner post below and adjacent to switch I9 is an electric timer or signal device 22 including light bulb or lamp 23 positioned in alignment with opening 23 formed in side 5. Wiring 24 connects outlet I'I, cut-off switch l9, signaling device 22, and back to outlet l1 completing the circuit through said switch and timer.

It will be seen that timer 22 is controlled by cut-off switch l9 independently of the circuit control switch l9, and the circuit to said timer is normally open during operation of the device A. Said timer 22, is of the flash type set to give prints, as will be well understood.

', as a heat deflector to direct the heat through perforated plate l2 to the drying chamber or compartment I3, as will be well understood.

The printing head D comprises sides 21 and 23 and front and rear sides 29 and 39, respectively, all of which constitute continuations of walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 which they surmount. Rear wall 30 is hingedly connected to wall 6 by hinge elements 3|. Attached to the inner top and bottom edges of the respective sides 21, 28, 29 and 3B are the countersunk supports or angle members 32, on the upper members of which is adapted to seat and be suitably secured thereto a plate glass platen work supporting and printing surface 33 flush with the upper edges of sides 27-39,

and in the lower members 32 of which is adapted to similarly seat and be secured flush with the lower edges of said sides 21-33 a translucent light diifusing member 34.

A pair of hinge plates 35 are secured to the upper surface of top I on opposite sides thereor by bolts or other fastening means 38, said members being formed with depending ears 3'! and having lateral pins 39 on which are pivotally mounted and suitably secured the elongated hinge elements 39 slotted as at 40, and mounted directly below ears 3'! are the hinge plates 4| secured to the respective sides 21 and 28 by pins or bolts 42 and having lateral threaded extensions 43 adapted to extend through slots 43 and be locked therein by wing nuts 44,

and by means of which top C may be secured in any desired adjusted position with respect to header D in accordance with the thickness of the book or other work to be copied and which with the paper or other sensitized material on which the copy is to be made is placed on platen 33, as will directly more fully appear.

The expansible coacting locking elements 45 and 46 are connected to top C and printing head D in order to lock said members as a unit when it is desired, or when it becomes necessary to use ordinary day light, or source of illumination other than the illuminating means E, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Mounted on said cabinet B is a combination pressure contact lever and carrying handle structure, comprising a substantially U-shaped bar member 41 on which is suitably mounted hand grip member 48 the free ends of which are pivotally connected as at 49 to sides 3 and 4, respectively, below and in substantially vertical spaced relation with respect to hinge elements 39. A pair of link members 50 are connected at their lower ends to the leg sections 47 of the U-shaped member 41 as at 5!, their upper ends being pivotally connected as at 52 to angle plates 53 secured to the upper opposite edges of top C as at 54. Said link members are adapted to normally extend at an angle from plates 53 downwardly and forwardly to their points of connection 5|, so that top C may be freely moved to open position, and extensions 43 and nuts 44 will constitute stop means engageable with legs 4'! of member 41 to limit the movement of top C in opening direction and to maintain it in open position as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. While printing head D may be secured to top C and supported therewith in open position it is shown in Fig. 5 supported separated frcm top C, and on the opposite side of handle 48.

It will be observed that bar 41 and links 59 are so mounted and arranged as to provide a fulcrum pressure means for effecting engagement of the yieldable surface F with the work positioned on head D and efiect operation of switch l9 by different thicknesses of work to insure accurate relative movement of top with respect to printing head D so that switch l9 will not be operated to turn on light means E until top C moving in printing direction reaches a uniformly spaced position with respect to printing head D. This structure alsopermits movement of top C and printing head D as a unit irrespective of the thickness of the work intermediate surface F and platen 23.

The sectional contact plunger structure G comprises in the present instance a screw bolt section 55 extending through top 0' centrally adjacent to its free edge, secured therein by threaded nut- 56, and having threadedly mounted on its free end an adjustable contact member 51. Side 29 and header D is formed with a bore 58 in which is rigidly mounted or formed a plate or partition 59 through which extends a plunger 60 formed on opposite ends with heads GI and 62, respectively. Said head 62 forming a contact surface for member and which may be threadedly secured if desired, the bottom head 6| forming a contact surface for contact plunger rod 63 mounted on plate extension 83 of switch mechanism I9 normally maintained in switch opening position by spring element 6 l but depressible to operate said switch to close circuit I8 against the action of spring 6| by plunger structure G as will be well understood.

It will thus be seen that top C and printing head D carry independent plunger contact sections and may be freely moved either separately or as a unit, so that when in closed position, pressure on handle 48 through top C and plunger structure G will operate switch l9 to turn on lamps l6 as desired. Said structure G is adjustable by means of member 51 to compensate for adjustment of top G with respect to printing head D in accordance with variations in the thickness of the work, so that operation of said switch will not be affected.

The operation of the device would seem to be clear from the above description, but it might be well to further state that when the device is used in a studio or where electricity is available it is only necessary to plug an electrical connection in socket l1 and when the device is used in the field, a battery or other source of electricity or illumination may be employed.

Initially switch [9' is turned on so that timer 22, requiring a short time interval after the switch is thrown to become operative, will be in operation at all times while the device is being used. The sensitized material on which the copy is to be made is placed on the transparency or platen 33 and the work to be photo-printed or copied is superimposed thereon. Top I is then lowered so as to bring yieldable surface F into engagement with said work, whereupon pressure on handle 48 causes plunger structure G to operate switch Hi to turn on illuminating means E, and the number of flashes visible through opening 23 indicates when pressure is to be removed from handle 48, thereby again opening the circuit to switch l9 and cutting off the illuminating unit E in accordance with the predetermined exposure time interval to effect the proper print of the work being copied as will be apparent.

The yieldable surface F permits a limited variation in the thickness of the work without other adjustment of top I, said top being adjustable with respect to header D in accordance with work of greater variation in thickness, the structural arrangement of the expansible hinge structure and compressible handle structure being such as not to operate switch 19 until top 0 is in uniform superimposed relation with respect to the work and header D to insure a proper print. The construction and coaction of the compressible handle structure with respect to top I being such that said top may be maintained in operating position during the exposure time interval and instantly releasable to cut-off illuminating means E as indicated by timer 22. During operation of the device the light from illuminating unit E is diffused through member 34 and through the transparent platen 33 to produce the desired photo-print or copy of the desired matter, as hereinbefore explained.

During operation of the device the heat from illuminating unit E is directed by screen plate 26 through perforated, member I2 to the heating and drying chamber l3, and as the prints are made they are deposited in the drawer or drying pan l4 and are, therefore, dried as the printing operation proceeds, and upon completion of the printing operation the undried prints may be left in said drying chamber during movement of the device from one printing location to another, or the drying chamber l3 may be used merely as a storage compartment during the transportation of the unit if desired.

Where electricity is not available or the current for some reason is cut off, when the work and sensitized material are properly positioned intermediate top structure .C and printing head D, such parts may be secured by the adjustable locking elements 45 and 46 and moved to the desired open position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereupon daylight, sunlight or other source of illumination may be employed to effect the printing operation as heretofore explained.

Upon completion of the printing operation and when the materials, prints etc. are placed within chamber l3 or within the cabinet, top C, printing head D, and side 5, may be interconnected by locking elements 45 and 46 or by other suitable means, whereupon the device may be readily transported byliandle 48 as desired.

From the above it will be apparent that I have designed a complete portable combination photo printing and drying unit comprising few parts, simple in construction, versatile in. operation, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and efficient for the purposes indicated.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including an illuminating compartment, aprinting head overlying the compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head constituting a continuation of the casing and including a transparency, a cover hingedly con nected to the head, said cover including a yieldable under surface and being vertically adjustable with respect to the head, said yieldable surface being adapted to overlie said transparency, means pivoted to the casing and connected to said cover for bringing its yieldable surface into pressing relation with respect to said transparency, illuminating means in said compartment, and means to energize said illuminating means when said cover is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said cover.

2. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including an illuminating compartment, a printing head overlying the compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head con stituting a continuation of the casing and including a transparency and a translucent medium arranged in vertically spaced relation, a cover hingedly connected to the head and con forming to its dimensions, said cover including a yieldable under surface and being vertically adjustable with respect to the head, said yieldable surface being adapted to overly said transparency, means pivotally connected to the casing and cover to bring its yieldable surface into pressing relation with respect to said transparency, illuminating means in said compartment, and means to energize said illuminating means when the cover is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said cover.

3. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including a combined heating and illuminating compartment and a drying compartment underlying the combined compartment, a printing head overlying the combined compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head including a transparency, a yieldable surface structure hingedly connected to said head and adapted to overly said transparency, means pivoted to the casing and connected to said yieldable surface structure for bringing the latter into pressing relation with respect to said transparency, said means including a pressure member hinged to each side of thecasing and linked with said yieldable surface structure illuminating means in said combined compartment, and means to energize said illuminating means when said yieldable surface structure is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said surface structure.

4. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including a combined illuminating and heating compartment and a drying compartment underlying the combined compartment and separated therefrom by a perforated partition, a printing head overlying the combined compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head including a transparency, a yieldable surface structure hingedly connected to said head overlying said transparency, means pivotally connected to the casing and connected to said yieldable surface structure for bringing the latter into pressing relation with respect to said transparency, illuminating means in said illuminating compartment, and screen means overlying said illuminating means adapted to direct the heat from the combined compartment to said drying chamber, and means to energize said illuminating means when said yieldable surface is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said surface structure.

5. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including a combined illuminating and. heating compartment and a drying compartmentunderlying the combined compartment and separated therefrom by a perforated partition, a printing'head overlying the combined compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head including a transparency and a translucent medium arranged in vertical spaced relation, a compressible yieldable surface structure hinged to said head and adapted to overly said transparency, means pivotally connected to the casing and yieldable surface structure to bring the latter into pressing relation with respect to said transparency, illuminating means in said combined compartment and means to direct the heat from the combined compartment to the drying compartment, and means to energize said illuminating means when the yieldable structure is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said yieldable surface structure.

6. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including a combined illuminating and heating compartment and a drying compartment underlying the combined compartment, a printing head overlying the combined compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, said head including a work supporting transparency and a translucent medium arranged in vertical spaced relation, a compressible top having a yieldable surface, said top being adjustably hinged to said head and adapted to overly said Work, means pivotally connected to the casing and top for bringing said yieldable surface into pressing relation with respect to said work, said means including a combined pressure yoke and carrying handle for the casing, said yoke being hinged to the casing and linked to the top, illuminating means in said compartment, means to energize said illuminating means when the yieldable structure is in printing position, said last mentioned means being controlled by said top.

7. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including an illuminating compartment, a work supporting printing head overlying the compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, a top having a yieldable surface hingedly connected to and overlying said head, adjustable switch contact means carried by said top and head, illuminating means in said compartment, means to energize the illuminating means, control switch means connected to the energizing means and carried by said casing, said means including a multi-element contact device extending through the top, head, and into said casing, certain of said elements being adjustable, fulcrum means pivotally connected to the casing and to the top including operating handle means operable to bring the yieldable surface into pressing relation with said work and the switch contact means into engagement with said switch, whereby energization of the illuminating means is eifected.

8. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including an illuminating compartment, a work supporting printing head including a transparency overlying the compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, a top including a yieldable surface hingedly and adjustably connected to said head and adapted to overly said work, adjustable means uniting the top and head into a unitary structure hingedly movable with respect to said casing, adjustable sectional switch con tact means carried by said top and head, said means including a multi-element contact device extending through the top, head, and into said casing illuminating means in said compartment, means to energize the illuminating means, switch means controlling the energizing means and carried by said casing, means connected to the casing and to the top including operating handle means operable to bring the yieldable surface into pressing relation with said work and the switch contact means into engagement with said switch to turn on said illuminating means,

9. A photo printing unit comprising a portable casing including a combined illuminating and heating compartment, and a combined drying and storage compartment underlying the first mentioned compartment and having a drawer, a work supporting printing head overlying the illuminating compartment and hingedly connected to the casing, a top including a yieldable surface hingedly and adjustably connected to said head and adapted to overly said work, adjustable means uniting the top and head into a unitary structure hingedly movable with respect to the casing, said unit adapted to be rigidly secured to said casing, adjustable sectional switch contact means, carried by said top and head, said means including a multi-element contact device extending through the top, head, and into said casing and carried by said top and head, illuminating means in said illuminating compartment, means to energize the illuminating means, switch means carried by the casing adjusted to control the energizing means, means connected to the casing and top including operating handle means, for bringing the yieldable surface into pressing relation with respect to said work and the switch contact means into engagement with said switch effecting energization of said illuminating means.

JOSEPH J. CAMPBELL. 

